Lucrezia di Borgia

daughter of Pope Alexander VI., was thrice married, her last
husband being Alfonso, Duke of Ferrara. Before her marriage with the
duke she had a natural son named Gennaro, who was sent to be brought up
by a Neapolitan fisherman. When arrived at man's estate he received a
letter informing him that he
was nobly born, and offering him a commission in the army. In the
battle of Rimini he saved the life of Orsini, and they became sworn
friends. In Venice he is introduced to the young nobles, who tell him
of the ill deeds of Lucrezia Borgia. Each of them has had some relative
put to death by her agency. Gennaro, in his indignation, mutilates the
duke's escutcheon with his dagger, knocking off the “B” of his name,
and changing Borgia into Orgia (orgies). Lucrezia, not knowing
who has offered the insult, requests the duke that the perpetrator may
be put to death, but when she discovers it to be her own son gives him
an antidote to neutralise the poison he has drunk, and releases him
from his confinement. Scarcely is he liberated when he and his
companions are invited by the Princess Negroni to a banquet, where they
are all poisoned, Lucrezia tells Gennaro he is her son, and dies
herself as soon as her son expires. (Donizetti's opera.)